Post-box signal.



E. G. GINGRIGH. POST BOXSIGNAL. APPLIoATIoN rmm un'. 1o, 190s.

Patented Apr.20,1909.

UHIUIMUM MUM" Hun

ELVA C. GINGRICH, OF TOULON, ILLINOIS.

POST-BOX SIGNAL.

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1809.

Application lilerl February 10, 1908. Serial No. 415,043.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELvA O. GINemcn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toulon, in the county of Stark and State ol' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Box Signals 5 and I Vdo hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to mail-box signals and has for its object a signal, such as a target or flag which is operated through suitable mechanism by the postman when mail is deposited by him in the mail-box and also to a signal, such as an alarm, in the residence, which is sounded simultaneouslyT with the operation of the target or flag.

For a further and full description of the invention herein and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for e'l'lecting the result, reference is had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

Vhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view oi' a `inailbox, with my improvements attached thereto, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view of the box, showing the door open and in elevation the mechanism within the box, which, when operated simultaneously, sets the target or flag, and sounds the alarm; the alarm and connections being diagramlnatically illustratet'l in connection with the figure.

Like numerals of reference indicate cori responding parts throughout the figures.

In the drawings, the box is referred to generally as 1, having the oval top 2 vertical sides 3, ends 4 and bottom 5, which may be made of sheet metal or other suitable niaterial, and one end is provided with a door 6 hinged as at 7 with a latch 8 arranged in a suitable manner for retaining the door closed and4 capable of being caught hold ol by the postman or .other person, for releasing the same when it is desired to open the door for gaining access to the interior of the box.

On the inside of the box and secured preierably to one of the side walls thereof is a supporting plate 9, to which is attached the mechanism to be described, which, when operated, imparts motion to the signal, such as the flag or target and also sounds the alarm in the residence. This plate is preferably detachable from the box by being secured therein by means of threaded studs or bolts 10 engaged by the .nuts 11 as shown, making it possible to remove or replace the plate and its attached mechanism whenever it is deemed advisable.

rlhe signal, that is the 'llag or target, operatively connected to the box, is indicated as 12, and may be ol any desired con'guration and colored if desirable; the same being attached to the outer end of a rod 13 secured at its opposite end to a short spindle 1+i projecting through the side of the box and also through the plate 9, in which it has a bearing. The rod when operated in a manner to be described, is thrown into a vertical position and when assuming such position, engages a lip or extension 15 attached to or projecting from the side of the box, as shown.

Connected with the spindle 141 on the inside of the box, is a crank-arm 16 which, at its opposite or lower end is )ivotally cennectcd at 17 with a bar 18 5 sait liar provided with a longitudinal slot 19 to enable the crank-arm to have a slidable relation therewith, when the ilag or target is opera-ted, and the outer end of the bar 1S has attached thereto a rcciprocally supported rod 2() having a bearing in a bracket 21 secured to the plate 9, and to the outer end of said rod 2O is attached a chain 22, or other suitable l'lexiblc member which is in turn secured to the door, preferably, through an eye 23 adi justably connected with a threade-d lug or extension 2li oi the door.

A. lever or swinging arm 25 pivoted at 2G to the plate 9 has pivotally attached thereto approximately midway of' its length a plunger' bar or rod 27, which passes through and has a sliding bearing in an ear or extension 2S of the plate and on its outer end is provided with a button or head 29, which, when the door is closed, as shown in Fig. 1 coincides with an opening 3() in. the door, so that the button or head 29 of the plunger rod may be engaged after mail has been deposited in the box and the door closed, lor throwing the llag or target and sounding the alarm. The lower end ol" the lever or swinging arm 25 normally engages one end oi a reciprocally su )ported rod 31 having a sliding bearing in a ip or extension 32 of the plate been operated and rein Fig. 2 with the lower pivotod ends olfv crank-arm 16 and bar 18 engaging and resting thereon, remaining in that posi cn with the iiag or target, locked in inopera tion, until the plunger rod 27 is op. t pushing on the button or head 29, rod 31 is rcciprocated under i lever or swinging arm 25 v non Wil the stop-block 35 to be osoillated in the direction of the arrovr in iiig. 2, riding from beneath and releasing t ie crank-arm lo and bar 18, which assisted by a spring 3.7 in operative connection with the spindle le, will roch said spindle and thro i" t flag or target l2 into an upright or vertical position., indicating that mail has been deposited in the box.

l have provided in connection With the mechanisms just descibed, an alarm, to be placed in the residence and operated through electrical connections with the box so that in the event the box should be so placed i rith respect to the location of the residence and to obviate the necessity of a person hav' ig to place himself in a line of vision of the box to see if the flag or target has been thrown, Which Will be an indication that inail is in the box.

ln Fig. 2 an alarm-bell indicated as 38 may be suitably placed in the residence in connection with the usual battery indicated as 39. Leading from the battery is an electrical conductor L0 having connec tion with a post l1 in the box 1 and also leading from the battery 39 to the bell is a conductor and leading from the bell to a post 43 insulated from the box 1 is a conductor Llei. Associated with the post i3 and also insulated from the box 1 is a Contact plate l5 Which is adapted to be engaged by the lever or swinging arm 25, When the plunger rod 27 is projected inwardly which Will complete the circuit through the box to the battery and bell and ring said bell, which alarm is an indication that mail has been deposited in the box. lt Will be seen that the cir-cuit is completed when the lever' or swinging arm 25 engages the plate 45, which is simultaneous With the release ci crank-arm 16 and bar 18 upon the oscillation of the stop-block 35 in manner explained.

A person upon opening the door 6 to gain access to the box for taking possession of the Inail therein, Vdraws the rod 2O forward through the action of the chain 22 which is Having thus fully described my invention, Wh 4t l claim and desire to secure by Letters latent oi th United States, is

1. A mail-box having a hinged door provided With an opening, a target pivotally supported on said box, a plunger bar capable oi being operated by engagement of'said bar through the opening in the door, mechanis :i for locling the target in an inoperative position, means operated by said plunger bar for releasing the target loclring mechanism, and opera ying connections between the door and said loclring niec Lin 4lor operating said locking mechanism upon the opening oi* the door lor throwing the target into inoperative position. Y

A mail box having a hinged door provided vfith an opening, a target pivo tally supported on said box, a plunger bar having head normally coinciding vv'itn the opening in the door and engaged through said opening i'or operating said plunger, a lever connected With said plunger, mechanism for locking the target in an inoperative position, means interposed between said lever and said locking mechanism, adapted to be operated by the lever upon moving the plunger inwardly for releasing said target lool g mechanism; Where y the target is thrown into an upright position, and connections between therdoor and said target locking mechanism capable of being operated vwhen the door is opened for throwing said target into inoperative position.

3. il. mail-bor; provided with a hinged door having an opening, a target pivotally supported on said box, a crank-arm connected With said target, locking means for holdine' the crank-arm and target in inoperative Jion, a plunger bar reciprocally mounted in the box and capable oi being operated by engagement thererdth, through the opening in t ie door, means operated by said plunger tor releasing the loclring means, whereby said target may assume an upright position, and connections between said door and said crank-arm oi the target Jfor throwing the target into inoperative position, when the door is opened.

l. A inail-box having a hinged door provided With an opening, a target pivotally supported on said box, a plunger bar having a head normally coinciding With the opening in the door whereby said plunger bar may be operated by pressure upon the head through said opening, means releasable through the operation of the plunger bar for locking the target in inoperative position, and connections operable by the opening of the door for throwing said target to inoperative iosition. 5. A mail-box having a hinged oor provided with an opening, a target pivotally supported on said box, a crank-arm connected with said target, a bar pivotally connected with said crank-arm, releasable means for locking said crank-arm and bar whereby the target is held in inoperative position, a spring for throwing the target to operative position when said locking means is released, means disposed coincident with the opening in the door, and capable of being engaged for operation through said opening for releasing said locking means, and means operable by opening the door for actuating the crank-arm and vbar and throwing the target to inoperative position.

6. A mail-box having a hinged door provided with an opening, a target pivotally supported on said box, a crank-arm connected with said target, a bar pivotally connected with said arm, a lock-block for holding the crank-arm, bar and target in inoperative position, a spring for throwing the target to operative position upon the release of said lockblock, aplunger bar having a head normally coinciding with the opening in the door, means operable by the operation of said plunger bar for releasing said crank-arm and bar connected therewith, and means operated by opening the door for throwing the target to inoperative position.

7. A mail-box having a hinged door provided with an opening, a target pivotally supported on said box, a crank-arm connected with said target, a bar pivotally connected kto have a slidable relation with said arm, a lock-block normally holding the arm and rbar in inoperative position, a spring 'for throwing the target to operative position upon the release of the lock-block, a lever, means operative by engagement of the lever for releasing the lock-block, a plunger bar operatively connected with said lever and provided with a head normally disposed coincident with the opening in the door, and flexible connections between the iii-st mentioned bar and said door, whereby when said door is opened, said target is thrown to inoperative position.

8. A signal for mail-boxes, comprising a target operatively connected with said box and an electrical alarm, an electric circuit in which the box and alarm are included, means for locking the target in inoperative osition manually operated means Jfor releasing the target locking means, whereby said target maybe thrown to operative position, said last mentioned means also capable of completing the electric circuit for sounding the alarm simultaneous with the throwing of the target.

9. A signal for mail-boxes, comprising a target operatively connected with said box and an electrical alarm, an electrical circuit in which the box and alarm are included, means ior locking the target in inoperative position manually operated means ior releasing the target locking means, whereby said target may be thrown to operative position, said last mentioned means also capable of completing the electric circuit for sounding the alarm simultaneous with the throwing of the target, and means operable when the door of the box is opened i'or throwing the target to inoperative position.

10. A signal for mail-boxes, comprising a target pivotally supported on said box, mechanically operated means for throwing the target to operative position, an alarm, an electric circuit including the alarm, having as one terminal the box and the other a plate insulated from said box, and a contact in said mechanically operated means adapted to engage said insulated terminal in the box and complete the circuit for sounding the alarm simultaneous with the throwing oi the target.

11. A signal for mail-boxes, comprising a target pivotally supported on said box, means for locking the target in inoperative position manually operated means for releasing the target locking means,whereby said target may be thrown to operative position, an alarm, an electric circuit including the alarm, having as one terminal the box and the other a plate insulated from said box, a contact associated with said manually operated means adapted to engage said insulated terminal in the box and complete the circuit for sounding the alarm simultaneous with the throwing of the target, connections between the door of the b x and said target locking means, for throwing the target to inoperative position when said door is opened, and means for automatically separating the contact from the insulated terminal for breaking the circuit simultaneous with the throwing of the target to inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELVA C. GINGRICH.

Witnesses:

CEAS. W. LA PORTE, LAURA E. CLAYPooL. 

